Vending machine



J n- 1960 B. w. FRY 2,919,831

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 17, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet i Jan. 5, 1960 B. w.FRY 2,919,831

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 17, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. W. FRY

VENDING MACHINE Jan. 5, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 17. 1954 UnitedStates Patent VENDING MACHINE Benjamin W. Fry, Ladue, Mo., assignor, bymesne assigninfigits, to National Vendors, Inc., a corporation of sonriApplication June 17, 1954, Serial No. 437,426 3 Claims. (Cl. 221-225)This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly to amachine for vending packs of cigarettes.

The invention is an improvement upon the cigarette vending machine shownin my prior U.S. Patent 2,594,147, patented April 22, 1952, its primaryobject being the provision of means whereby, as to each brand ofcigarettes in the machine, two packs are displayed at the window of thecabinet of the machine for inspection of revenue stamps on the packs orthe like, a first of these two packs being delivered to the purchaser onoperation of the machine, the second pack then taking the place of thefirst pack, and another pack being delivered from the supply in themachine to take the place of the second pack. Other objects will be inpart apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a view corresponding generally to the upper end of Fig. 6 ofmy U.S. Patent 2,594,147, showing certain elements of the improvement ofthis invention, also showing parts of a cabinet of the machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken generally on line 22 of Fig. 1, partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 14 of my U.S. Patent 2,594,147, andshowing certain elements of the improvement of this invention; and,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 18 of U.S. Patent 2,594,147.

.Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is 'shown as applied to thecigarette vending machine disclosed in my prior U.S. Patent 2,594,147.Only so much of the machine as is required for an understanding of thepresent invention is shown. Reference may be made to my said priorpatent for complete details. As to those parts of the machine shownherein which are the same as those shown in said patent, the samereference characters are used.

In general, the vending machine is shown to comprise a console cabinet 1having a front door 3. At 19 is shown a window which extends across theupper portion of the door. This portion of the door inclines away from arow of push button selector members 21 mounted for vertical movement ina stepped portion 23 of the door. Each push button is in line with apivoted trap or display tray 25a adapted to carry a pack P-l to bedispensed in a first display position as shown in Fig. 1. The tray isdesignated 25a to distinguish it from the tray 25 shown in my priorpatent since it differs somewhat therefrom. The construction of the tray25a will be later specified. The packs carried by the trays 25a arevisible through the window 19. Upon the proper deposit of coins, and theactuation of a push button, the machine operates through a dispensingcycle wherein the tray 25a corresponding to that particular push buttonis tilted to discharge the pack P-1 carried thereby into a deliverychute 27, through which it falls and drops into a receiver 29. Thereceiver 29 is carried interiorly by the door 3, and the door has anaccess opening 31 for removing the pack.

At 35 is indicated a primary magazine for holding packs of cigarettes Pin an upright stack, and at 55 is shown a guide at the rear of theprimary magazine. By reference to my prior patent, it will be understoodthat a pack discharged from the lower end of the magazine 35 is impelledupward in the guide passage defined by the sides 37 of the magazine, theguide 55, and a rear panel 73. The upper end of the rear panel 73 abovethe upper end of the magazine curves forward and then downward asindicated at 75. Any pack impelled upward in the rear of the magazine isguided by the curved up per end of the panel 73 to travel around theupper end of the magazine and then downward toward the front of themagazine between the curved upper end 75 of the panel 73 and a curvedguide plate 76. The pack is im pelled upward by a kicker foot 69 in theguide passage. This kicker foot extends radially from a kicker shaft 71.The lowermost pack of the stack is adapted to be discharged rearward ontracks 51 on to the kicker foot by a pusher 155. This is pivoted on apackage discharge rod 151 which is slidable forward and rearward. Whenbutton 21 is pushed down, the rear end of pusher 155 tilts up forpushing the lowermost pack rearward.

Each tray 25a has an upwardly extending rear flange 25b, apertured sideears 250 in back of the flange, and a step as indicated at 25d. Thetrays are individually freely pivoted on a transverse shaft 77, as in myprior patent, received in the ears 250, for swinging movement on ahorizontal axis in the rear of and adjacent the upper edge of the flange2512. Any one tray may pivot on shaft 77 independently of all the othertrays. The trays are adapted to be retained in the raised displayposition shown in Fig. l by pins 79, one for each tray, extendingradially from the shaft 77, and by fingers 81, one for each tray, whichextend upward from the upper ends of slides 83, the same as in my priorpatent. The pins 79 are engage able with the back of the respectiveflanges 25b. Each tray, in its raised position, slopes forward anddownward.

By reference to my prior patent, it will be understood that when a pushbutton 21 is pushed down, this drives down the finger 81 for therespective tray. It also initiates operation of the dispensing mechanismof the vending machine to effect counterclockwise rotation of the shaft77 as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby swinging all the pins 79 away from theback flanges 25b of the trays. This permits the respective tray to tiltdownward, and discharge the pack thereon into the chute 27 for deliveryto the purchaser. The dispensing mechanism includes a rocker plate 179at the left side of the machine. This normally occupies the initialposition shown in solid lines in Fig. 3. It is adapted to be rockedclockwise from this initial position to the dotted-line position shownin Fig. 3 and then back to the initial position by a drive including amotor 167, a speed reducer 169, gears 171 and 173, and a link 177. Gear173 is fixed on a shaft 175. At the right side of the machine is arocker plate 185 similar to rocker plate 179. This is rocked by means ofa crank arm 183 on shaft 175 and a link 184. Links 189 and 191 connectthe rocker plates 179 and to the ends of rod 151. Shaft 175 carries camssuch as indicated at 205.- These act on cam follower rollers 209 onlevers 207 on kicker shaft 71. Biasing springs 211 maintain rollers 209in engagement with the cams. Full details may be ascertained from Patent2,594,147.

In accordance with this'invention, a rock shaft 501 is providedextending transversely of the machine above the forward end portion ofthe curved upper end 75 of the panel 73. This shaft is journalled at itsends in brackets 503 and &5 (see Fig. 2). It carries a series of springfingers 507, one for each tray. Each finger 507 extends forward from theshaft 581 and is adapted to bear upon the upper face of a second pack ofcigarettes P-Z located in a second display position rearward of thefirst pack P1 as shown in Fig. l. The second pack P2 in the statedsecond display position rests toward the rear on the forward end portionof the guide plate 76 and toward the front on the upper edge of flange25b, with the lower portion of its forward end engaging the upperportion of the rearward end of pack P-1. The forward end portion of thepack P2 projects forward from between guides 75 and 76, the pack beinginclined downward toward the tray. In the position of shaft 5111 shownin Fig. 1, the spring fingers occupy a relatively raised positionwherein their free ends bear lightly on the packs P-Z. Uponcounterclockwise rotation of shaft 501 as viewed in Fig. 1, the freeends of the fingers are brought to bear on the packs P-2 withconsiderable force.

At its left end (see Figs. 2 and 3) the shaft 501 has a radial arm 509.A bar 511 is pivotally attached at its lower end to the rocker plate 179as indicated at 513, and extends upward through a guide 515. At itsupper end, the bar 511 has a finger 517 extending over the arm. A spring519 biases the shaft 501 to rock counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. l(clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3), rotation of the shaft being limited byengagement of the arm 509 with the finger 517. In the initial positionof the rocker plate 179 shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, the bar 511occupies a lowered position such that finger 517 holds down the radialarm 509 and thereby holds the rock shaft 501 in such a position againstthe bias of the spring 519 that the spring fingers 507 are held in theirraised position. In this raised position, the free ends of the springfingers may still hear on the upper faces of packs P-2, but with onlyrelatively light force. As the rocker plate 179 rocks clockwise from itsinitial position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, the bar511 is moved upward. This raises finger 517 from arm 509 and frees therock shaft 501 for rotation by the spring 519 to bring the springfingers 5117 downward to bear with considerable force upon the packsP-Z. When the rocker plate 179, completing a cycle of oscillation,returns to its initial position, the bar 511 is returned to its initiallowered position and finger 517 pulls down the arm 509 to rock the rockshaft 501 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 and counterclockwise as viewedin Fig. 3 thereby to return the spring fingers to their raised position.

By reference to my prior patent, it will be understood that after a packhas been discharged from a particular tray, and as the rocker plate 179,in completing a cycle of oscillation, approaches its initial positionshown in solid lines in Fig. 3, the kicker foot 69 operates to impel apack derived from the supply in the respective magazine 35 upward in therear of the magazine, the pack being guided by elements 75 and 76 aroundthe upper end of the magazine and to the front.

Operation is as follows:

As to any brand of cigarettes in the machine, with the rocker plate 179in its initial position as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 there will bea pack P1 in the first display disposition as shown in Fig. 1 on therespective tray 25a, and a second pack P2 in the second display positionrearward of the first pack as shown in Fig. l resting on the forward endportion of guide plate 76 and the upper edge of flange 25b of the tray.One end of each of packs P-1 and P-Z, which will be its bottom end asthe packs are placed in machine, is visible through the window 19. Theentire front surface of pack P1 and part of the front of P-2 is visible.The bar 511 is in its lowered position, and hence the respective springfinger 507 is in its raised position. When a purchaser, having deposited4 the requisite amount in coins, pushes the button 21, this drives downthe finger 31 and initiates operation of the dispensing mechanism toeffect counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 77 as viewed in Fig. 1,thereby swinging the respective pin 79 rearward away from the flange 25bof the tray. it will be understood that when the button is pushed down,the motor 1627 is energized (provided the proper amount in coin has beendeposited) in the same manner as described in my prior patent. Thispermits the tray to tilt downward and discharge the first pack P- intothe chute 27 for delivery to the purchaser. However, before the tray hastilted downward far enough to discharge the pack P-l, the action of thebar 511, which is moving upward as the rocker plate 179 rocks clockwiseas viewed in Fig. 3 through the initial half of its oscillatory cycle,effects release of the rock shaft 509 for rotation by the spring 51% tocause the respective spring finger 97 to bear down on the pack P-Z withconsiderable force. This prevents the pack P-Z from sliding off theforward end portion of the guide plate 76 and the upper edge of flange2517, so that pack P-Z does not drop into the chute 27.

As the rocker plate 179 rocks back through the final half of itsoscillatory cycle to its initial position, the rotation of shaft 77 isreversed, and the respective pin is thereby swung clockwise as viewed inFig. 1 to raise the tray back to its display position. As this occurs,bar 511 is lowered to raise the respective spring finger 507. At thistime a pack is impelled upward in the rear of the respective magazine bythe kicker foot 69 and is guided around the upper end of the magazine by75 and 76. This pack pushes the original pack PZ out from under thespring finger onto the tray (which is now raised). While the springfinger may bear lightly on the pack P-2, its force is insufficient toprevent pack P2 from being pushed otf onto the tray. The original packP-Z thus takes the place of the original pack P1 in the stated firstdisplay position, and the pack delivered from the magazine takes theplace of the original pack P-Z in the stated second display position.This completes the cycle of operation, and the machine is then inreadiness for the next vending operation.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. A vending machine for packs of cigarettes comprising a cabinet havinga window, a magazine in the cabi-. net for holding a supply of packs inan upright stack, a pivoted display tray in the cabinet adjacent and infront of the upper end of the magazine, said magazine having a passageat the rear thereof, upper and lower guides in the cabinet defining acontinuation of the passage around the upper end of the magazine to thetray, the lowermost pack of the stack being deliverable upward in therear of and around the upper end of the magazine through said passage,said tray being adapted to hold a first pack in a first display positionwith the front end of the first pack visible through the window, saidtray having an upwardly extending rear flange and being pivoted forswinging on a horizontal axis adjacent the upper edge of the flange,said tray being tiltable downward from a raised position to dischargesaid first pack, a second pack being adapted to occupy a second displayposition rearward of the firs; pack resting on the forward end portionof the lower guide and inclined downward toward the tray with the lowerportion of its forward end engaging the upper portion of the rearwardend of the first pack, whereby the front end of the second pack isvisible through the window and said second pack is adapted to slide ontothe tray to take the place of the first pack, means in the cabinet forreleasably holding the'second pack in said second display position,means for delivering a pack from the magazine to the second displayposition, means for tilting the tray downward to discharge said firstpack and for then returning the tray to its raised display position,means for actuating said holding means to hold said second pack in saidsecond display position while the tray is tilting downward to dischargethe first pack and to release said second pack for sliding onto the traywhen the tray has returned to display position, and means for actuatingthe delivering means to deliver a pack from the magazine to the seconddisplay position after the tray has returned to display position.

2. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forretaining said second pack comprises a finger pivoted for swingingmovement on a transverse axis above the forward end portion of the upperguide and adapted for movement of its free end toward and away from theupper face of the second pack.

3. A vending machine for packs of cigarettes comprising a cabinet havinga window, a magazine in the cabinet for holding a supply of packs in anupright stack, a pivoted display tray in the cabinet adjacent and infront of the upper end of the magazine, said magazine having a passageat the rear thereof, upper and lower guides in the cabinet defining acontinuation of the passage around the upper end of the magazine to thetray, the lowermost pack of the stack being deliverable upward in therear of and around the upper end of the magazine through said passage,said tray being adapted to hold a first pack in a first display positionwith the front end of the first pack visible through the window, saidtray having an upwardly extending rear flange and being pivoted forswinging on a horizontal axis adjacent the upper edge of the flange,means for tilting said tray downward from a raised position to dischargesaid first pack and for then returning the tray to its raised position,a second pack being adapted to occupy a second display position rearwardof the first pack resting on the forward end portion of the lower guideand inclined downward toward the tray with the lower portion of itsforward end engaging the upper portion of the rearward end of the firstpack, whereby the front end of the second pack is visible through thewindow and said second pack is adapted to slide onto the tray to takethe place of the first pack, a rock shaft in the cabinet extendingtransversely above the forward end portion of the upper guide, a springfinger extending forward from the rock shaft, and means in the cabinetfor operating the rock shaft in timed relation to the tray to lower thefree end of the finger to bear on the upper face of the second pack tohold the second pack in said second display position while the tray istilting downward to discharge the first pack and to raise the free endof the spring finger to release the second pack to slide onto the traywhen the tray is returned to display position after having dischargedthe first pack, means for delivering a pack from the magazine to thesecond display position, and means for actuating the delivering means todeliver a pack from the magazine to the second display position afterthe tray has returned to display position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS510,982 Mattson Dec. 19, 1893 559,534 Lohsand May 5, 1896 906,666 TowersDec. 15, 1908 1,113,476 Osmer Oct. 13, 1914 1,400,814 Grover Dec. 20,1921 1,827,900 Morrison Oct. 20, 1931 1,830,805 Myer Nov. 10, 19311,855,441 Crouse Apr. 26, 1932 2,594,147 Fry Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS 14,392 Great Britain A. D. 1912

